[Host: Cian] [Age: 18] [Race: Human] [Magic Power: ★] [Magic: Take Over Magic · Anime Soul] [Character Card: Ulquiorra Cifer...]
Cian stared at the digital panel where Ulquiorra's character card sat quietly, his heart pounding with excitement.
Originally just an ordinary high school graduate from Earth, Cian had transmigrated to the world of Fairy Tail half a month ago following an accident. With his arrival came the awakening of the Gacha System.
Yes, the very system hovering in his vision right now.
This system allowed him to "draw" characters who had died in various anime series. Once obtained, he could use Take Over Magic to embody their souls and wield their powers in battle.
It was essentially like playing Genshin Impact, but with his own body as the controller.
However, there was a catch. The system required the Host to bind themselves to a Guild. Once bound, in addition to the single free monthly draw, he could earn additional "pulls" by completing guild requests.
Since he had landed in the Kingdom of Fiore, joining Fairy Tail was a no-brainer. He was familiar with the lore, loved the atmosphere, and frankly, it was the strongest guild in the kingdom. Being here meant access to the best jobs.
Cian walked over to the Request Board, scanning the various flyers pinned to the wood.
The board on the first floor didn't have explicit letter rankings written on the papers, but his system overlaid its own assessment on top of them.
A-Rank: Rewards of 1,000,000 Jewels (J) or more. Completing one granted a single draw.
B-Rank: Rewards between 500,000 J and 1,000,000 J. Completing two granted a single draw.
C-Rank: Rewards between 100,000 J and 500,000 J. Completing ten granted a single draw.
Tasks paying less than 100,000 J weren't even marked by the system. Essentially, if he wanted to expand his arsenal, he couldn't waste time on anything paying less than 100k.
Cian first examined the C-Rank options (100k–500k J).
Subjugate the Vulcan on Mt. Hakobe... Exterminate bandit groups... Hunt forest monsters...
In the world of Fairy Tail, 100,000 Jewels was roughly equivalent to 5,000 RMB (or about $700 USD). For a single job, that sounded decent to a civilian. But for Mages? It was practically peanuts. Take the Vulcan, for instance—a single one of those beasts could wipe out a squad of twenty armed soldiers. Risking your life against a monster like that for such a small payout felt... cheap.
Cian quickly lost interest in the C-Rank jobs. It wasn't just the low pay; it was the efficiency. To get one draw, he'd need to do ten of these missions. Even if he rushed, factoring in travel time, each job would take two or three days.
Ten jobs meant a full month of grinding without rest.
One draw a month plus the monthly freebie equaled twenty-four draws a year. The system's pity counter for a guaranteed Gold Legendary was set at 100 draws. At that rate, he'd be an old man before he saw his next powerhouse.
No, he decided. I need harder missions. High risk, high reward.
In his previous life, he was poor. In this life, he refused to be anything less than wealthy and powerful.
His eyes scanned higher up the board until he found what he was looking for. He snatched the flyer and walked back to the bar.
"Mira, I want to take this job."
Mira blinked, surprised. "Already? You just joined! You should take some time to familiarize yourself with the guild first."
Cian gave a wry, bitter smile and shook his head. "I can't. I'm literally too poor to eat. If I don't work now, I'll starve."
His first two weeks in this world had been brutal. With no money, he'd been sleeping rough in the wilderness. On his way to Magnolia, he'd even been mugged by bandits. If the system hadn't thrown him a bone with a freebie draw—a blue-tier Chunin from Naruto—he would have died in a ditch somewhere. He'd barely scraped together enough coins from the bandits' pockets to make it to the guild hall.
His desire for financial security was currently at an all-time high.
"Hehe!" Mira giggled, covering her mouth. "You fit right in! Most of our Mages are the same way. They laze around until their pockets are empty, then rush out to work in a panic."
She took the paper from his hand. "Let me see which one you picked... Hmm?!"
Her eyes widened as she read the details. Her smile faded into a look of concern. "Wait, Cian. This request... I can't authorize this on my own. I need to ask the Master. Please wait a moment, he should be back soon."
"The Master?"
Cian hadn't seen the legendary Makarov yet.
Right on cue, the heavy guild doors creaked open. A tiny old man shuffled in, wearing a white tracksuit coat with an orange shirt underneath and a funny jester-like hat. He carried a rolled-up stack of papers under his arm.
"Master, you're back!" Mira called out, hurrying over to greet him.
Makarov glanced up, spotting Cian standing by the counter. "Hmm? A new face?"
"Yes, sir. My name is Cian. It's an honor to meet you."
Cian bowed respectfully. He wasn't fooled by the old man's diminutive stature. This tiny body held world-shaking power. Makarov's Titan Magic could grow him to the size of an island, and his signature spell, Fairy Law, was a strategic weapon capable of wiping out armies—like the Alvarez Empire's million soldiers—in a single flash of light.
But more importantly, Makarov treated his guild members like his own children. That alone was reason enough for respect.
Makarov raised a hand. "Oho! Good to have you, my boy!"
Then, his expression shifted.
"Hmph!!"
With surprising agility, the old man bent his knees and leaped high into the air, landing perfectly on the second-floor railing.
The chatter in the guild died down as everyone looked up.
Makarov waved the thick roll of papers in his hand, his face twisting into a scowl.
"You lot are causing trouble for me again, aren't you?! Look at this! Do you have any idea how many complaint forms the Magic Council sent me this time?!"
He unrolled the scroll and started reading.
"First, Gray!"
"Huh?"
At a table nearby, a dark-haired boy looked up, perplexed. He was currently wearing nothing but his boxers. "I didn't do anything."
Mira smiled pleasantly. "Gray, your clothes."
"Ack!! I forgot again!" Gray yelped, frantically scanning the floor for his pants.
Makarov ignored him and read from the report. "There were no issues during your apprehension of the bandits. Good job there. But afterward? Why were you wandering the streets stark naked?! And to top it off, you stole someone's underwear drying on a balcony to cover yourself and ran away!"
Gray froze, looking genuinely sheepish. "Well... being totally naked is bad for public morals..."
"Then don't get naked in the first place!" Elfman roared from the next table.
Makarov turned his glare to the large man. "Sigh! Elfman, you brat! You used violence against your client?"
Elfman scratched his cheek, looking away. "Because he said I wasn't a man!"
"Cana! You went to a client's estate for a job and drank their entire wine cellar dry! And to hide it, you refilled the barrels with water!"
"...Was I discovered...?" Cana hiccuped, looking guilty as she clutched a barrel of booze.
"Loke! You tried to hit on Councilor Yajima's granddaughter!"
Makarov's face turned red. As one of the Ten Wizard Saints and a recognizable figure, he had taken quite the beating in the council meeting over that one.
"And next... Natsu!"
Makarov took a deep breath.
"In the process of eliminating a monster, you destroyed a main road! While pursuing a fugitive, you demolished six civilian homes! You were hired to guard a caravan and burned the cargo! You eliminated a bandit group and burned the victims' stolen goods along with them!"
Listening to the litany of destruction, Cian was genuinely shocked. He knew Natsu Dragneel was a walking disaster, but hearing the itemized list was something else entirely.
"Alzack, Levy, Vijeeter, Laki, Bisca..."
Makarov rattled off name after name.
"You bunch!! Do you wake up every morning thinking of new ways to get me scolded by the Council?!"
The air in the guild grew heavy. Makarov trembled with suppressed rage.
Then, he stopped. His shoulders slumped.
"However..."
Makarov's tone softened, and a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Those old fools on the Council can go eat shit!"
Fwoosh!
Makarov summoned a magical flame in his hand and set the entire stack of complaints on fire. He tossed the burning papers into the air, letting the ashes rain down like snow.
"Listen up! All phenomena beyond common sense are born from common sense itself! Magic isn't some miraculous power; it is the manifestation of our spirit resonating with the flow of nature! It requires focus, mental fortitude... no, it requires pouring your entire soul into it!"
He raised a fist, his voice booming through the hall.
"If you constantly worry about what the higher-ups think, your magic will never progress! Don't fear the fools on the Council! Follow the path you believe in!"
"That is what it means to be a Mage of Fairy Tail!!!"
"YEAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
The entire guild erupted into cheers, fists pumping in the air.
Cian felt a shiver run down his spine. Even as a newcomer, the sheer passion and camaraderie were infectious. He grinned, feeling the blood rush to his face. He was really here. He was a part of this family now.
The guild quickly returned to its usual chaotic state—drinking, laughing, and friendly brawling.
Mira seized the opportunity and walked up to the balcony where Makarov stood, the request flyer in her hand.
"Master," she said, "Cian wants to take this job. I wasn't sure if I should approve it for a newbie. Could you take a look?"
"Oh? What kind of task is it?"
Makarov took the flyer and adjusted his mood, peering at the paper.
[Mission: Eliminate the Phantom Bandit Gang] [Reward: 700,000 Jewels]